At the moment there is post at #1 about people's notions of an ideal life. It seems to contrast with this article. People want a simple life with good health no

At the moment there is post at #1 about people's notions of an ideal life. It seems to contrast with this article. People want a simple life with good health not to acumulate stuff. But really you have to think what is poverty? It's such a vague word as is the word poor. There are people who live a subsistence lifestyle and they're happy. But there are people with mobile phones, big screen TV, computers, in an apartment who are poor. From my perspective we in a western society require more things to live too many things. For example Internet access for basic government services, by your employer and schools. Wages haven't kept pace with life. Costs seems to be rising faster than the lowest pay can cope with. My father is from a generation where you work long hours to make more money, simple as that. But these days the wage from any paying job may not be enough even working overtime. Even 20 years ago most people didn't have a cell phone, Internet was not widespread, you weren't paying for Netflix or a dozen other things eating away at your paycheque. To me it seems technology plus stagnant low skill job wages have amplified poverty.